The Patron Day will be celebrated this year throughout the Centre District of Madrid. From the 13th to the 15th of May, the Spanish capital will be filled with music, spectacles and traditional events where evryone is invited to join. Continue reading...
By Patricia Francesch.
This year the traditional festival of Madrid’s patron saint San Isidro returns to the city. The party that the Madrilenians have throughout the year, and the tradition to dress up as chulapos and chulapas will take place this week. After the pandemic situation, the festivity of San Isidro tries to recover with total normality. It will do it with music, activities, families, and other events that the City Council of Madrid has organised. However, in order to explain the festivities of San Isidro, it will first be necessary to comment on who this character is and why he is so important for the people of Madrid. San Isidro was a farmer born in 1802 to whom miracles are attributed, although some without final demonstration. He had the ability, through a technique of dowsing, to find water and subway wells so he found countless streams and springs, some set as places of worship. As a result, the Madrid society of the time began to echo the miraculous powers of Isidro Labrador.
His fame was preserved even after his death, processions were held in his honour and even a hermitage was created to commemorate him, which was beatified on May 15th, 1619, when the tradition began. That day of the year, the inhabitants of the capital make a pilgrimage to the Hermitage of San Isidro to drink water from the spring, which is said to have been found by Isidro himself. Once this ritual is over, the pilgrims go to the Pradera de San Isidro for a picnic.
Being such a traditional day for the Madrid community, it is fair to remark on the most symbolic detail, which is the chulapo dress. For this reason, in the San Isidro festivities, which by themselves already highlight the tradition of the capital, the inhabitants of Madrid dress up as chulapos to complete the commemoration.
Once the tradition is known, we return to the present to remember that this year this celebration is just around the corner. As communicated by municipal sources in the presentation of the festivities of San Isidro, released by Mayor José Luis Martínez-Aleida, this year the party is "a dance floor, is international, is mestizaje, is flamenco, is rock and roll, is family and is tradition. San Isidro is how the people of Madrid are."
This year's celebration is made in a big way. If in the past it was limited to the area of the ‘Ermita de San Isidro’ and the ‘Pradera de San Isidro’, today the entire Central District of Madrid becomes a particular symbol of these traditional festivities. The ‘Plaza de la Villa’, the ‘Jardín de Las Visitillas’, the ‘Plaza Mayor’, the ‘Plaza del Matadero’... and more areas and establishments, will host this year's festivities next weekend in May. Hosting more activities than the rest of the years, these San Isidro celebration days have been described as a special edition.
The city will host shows and musical activities throughout the weekend, in which there will be typical gastronomy, such as lemonade or Spanish donuts. A traditional festivity which this year also commemorates the Fourth Centenary of the Canonization of the Saint Patron, in addition to the traditional festival. The body of the saint will be exhibited in different temples of worship, something that hasn’t happened since 1985 on the occasion for the Centenary of the Diocese.
The proclamation of the ‘Fiestas de San Isidro 2022’ will be given by the actor Antonio Resines from the balcony of the Town Hall in the ‘Plaza de la Villa’, kicking off the program of the festivities. Below is the itinerary for these days of celebration.
FAMILY PROPOSALS, CONCERTS AND TRADITION
As for live music, a classic spectacle of this annual event, the program features renowned names such as OBK, Amistades Peligrosas, Jaime Lorente, Medina Azahara, Los Chichos, The Skatalites, Los Rebeldes, Coffee & Wine and Lin Cortés. It also includes contemporary music such as Franvvi, Red Axes, Acid Arab, Elyella, Arkano, Rusowski, Bronquio or Maikel Delacalle among others.
In addition, it will also host shows for the little ones with magic, puppets, a circus, theatre, storytelling, flamenco or family concerts of rock and pop. Including in this family environment the traditions of the Madrid and Castilian dance, ‘Goyesca’ or the ‘Baile Vermú Castizo’ in the verbena of the Pradera de San Isidro. There, chulapos and chulapas get together to dance some chotis.
LA PLAZA MAYOR
This important square of the capital will be opening this year's festivities, on May 13th at 21:30h the activities will begin with a concert by the Municipal Symphonic Band of Madrid. An opportunity to listen to the popular orchestra that will present a repertoire of great classics such as "Agua, azucarillos y aguardiente", "La Revoltosa" or "La Gran Vía" among others.
In this same square, the following day, May 14th at 12 noon, Saturday, will be held the XXXVIII Edition of the Festival de Danzas Madrileñas in which the folklore of Madrid will be shown in some exposed geographical area of Castile.
That same afternoon Rita Payés will perform in the square, as well as Cristina del Valle and Alberto Comesaña, Amistades Peligrosas. At 11 pm the whole square will be on its feet dancing to the urban music of the singer Mikel Delacalle.
The last day of festivities, Sunday 15th, at 18 hours Los40 Classic will remind us the most representative music of the national scene of recent decades. In addition to disco music with DJ Classic that in two sessions will have the stage at his feet.
EXPLANADA DEL PALACIO REAL
The Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida will receive, on behalf of all the people of Madrid, the Classic ‘All Blacks’ team on May 16th at 12:00 noon.
JARDÍN DE LAS VISITILLAS
There will be music performances of all kinds. On May 13th at 20h the Murcian Franvvi opens the stage with his pop punk music. He will be relieved by Belao, a band from Bizkaia with international projection. To close the night the Israeli indie electronic music duo Red Axes will take the stage.
On Saturday 14th at 11 am the day will start with different groups of the Federation of Traditional Groups Madrileños with dances of chotis, pasodoble and goyescos or zarzuelas. In the afternoon, the Villa de Madrid Rock Awards will be held, with the performance of Los Rebeldes presenting their album 'Rock Ola Blues'. They will be followed by Rusowsky with his new pop style and the day will end with the producer JAsss with electronic music.
On May 15th at Las Visitillas the most traditional genres of Madrid music will be performed by the cultural ‘Association Arrabel, the Coros y Danzas de Madrid and the Francisco de Goya’ and scenographies of the Escuela Bolera Madrileña. From 17h chotis madrileñas dances of Mari Pepa de Chamberí and Olga María Ramos. Followed at 9 pm with Cuban rhythm music, chachachá and bolero. From 11 pm, pioneers of reggae music and Latin rhythms will liven up the rest of the night.
LA PRADERA
Being the most emblematic place of the Fiestas de San Isidro, it will gather numerous shows. From the traditional verbena with the traditional Baile Vermú, to the music and party that every day will rumble into the night with performances of different musical genres that from May 9th prepare the people of Madrid for what will be the real weekend of festivities.ç
On the 14th Nacha La Macha will start the performance followed by OBK and ELYELLA will end the day with electronic music. Until the early morning will be animabdo the atmosphere as the voices of Jamie Lorente, Los Chichos or Silvia Superstar.
EL MATADERO MADRID
This cultural space will also host relevant proposals for the San Isidro festivities. On the 13th Lin Cortés will perform accompanied by his band. The Frenchman Acid Arab will close the day.
On Saturday 14th, after the morning tribute to San Isidro by the ‘Casas Regionales’, there will be performances by important names in Latin rhythms and flamenco.
On the day of San Isidro, the Madrid Flamenco Festival will present a choreographed piece by the Cía. As well as other dancers, choreographers and singers such as Juan Paredes who will liven up the atmosphere throughout the day. At night DJs of all kinds will leave the best taste of mouth of these festivities of San Isidro 2022.
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